With US relations ironically warming with Greece’s Radical Left SYRIZA-led coalition under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, a former Communist youth leader, the American military presence could expand beyond a Navy base on Souda Bay on Crete.

Tsipras, who said he would not allow a US military operation in the country and would take Greece out of NATO – he’s now aiding the defense alliance – has made relations between the countries better than they have been in 50 years, a diplomat who wasn’t named told Kathimerini.

Among options being considered, the paper said, is a new base in southern Crete to host special forces following the transfer of MQ-9 drones to a US base in Larissa.

Souda Bay is a key spot for aircraft carriers and repair facilities for destroyers but was unlikely to be able to expand, sending the US looking for other spots. There has even been on-again, off-again talk of a base on an island, such as Karpathos, but nothing has come of that so far although in 2016 Defense Minister Panos Kammenos was keen on the idea.

He is the leader of the pro-austerity, marginal, jingoistic Independent Greeks (ANEL) who are junior partners in the coalition led by SYRIZA and has eagerly sought closer ties and military cooperation with the US.

Boosting Greek-American ties and supporting the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel in the region are of key strategic interest to the US, the report said, even though Tsipras, apart from courting big business, has shown little interest in the Diaspora and barred voting from those abroad.

US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, who has repeatedly stressed that defense is a key pillar of cooperation between the two countries is said to be one of the driving forces behind the cooperation that is now so vital, with US relations with Turkey deteriorating although it has a base there, that the US has made little of furloughs for a terrorist who killed five Americans attached to the US Embassy over the years.

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell is also said to be behind making Greece a focus in the region, along with Cyprus, with Turkey increasing provocations in the Aegean and keeping warships off Cyprus in a bid to prevent foreign energy companies from drilling for oil and gas.

Mitchell reportedly said that Greece has the opportunity to “play ball” with the US as American relations cool with Turkey, especially after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Turkish steel, incensing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

2 Comments

Tsipras a born liar, not even true to his alleged ideologies, can respect someone and their beliefs even if way different then mine. Yes everyone is allowed to change a bit grow, see things differently, especially when one gets to lead a diverse group ( nation ) with many different thoughts ideas. But not only to have certain beliefs as a youth, young adult etc, then to have a specific platform to run for election promises, goals, never retreat, then after first election nothing but lies, second after referendum more outrageous lies, now 3rd time doing everything he stated he would not do….too crazy yet many will still vote SYRIZA because unlike Tsipras and SYRIZA, they still believe they still stick by their beliefs and what they want to see. No foreign bases in Greece, No NATO bases, No NATO, No Euro, No E.U., etc my ideology, not SYRIZA’s anymore…..throw SYRIZA out….

Mr. Mattis …has been demanding script compliance to the campaign of misinformation to discredit Russia,…in alleging that they meddle in the affairs of all the Nato countries ….and make America’s enemies ….those of Greece and the other Governors of Nato …under the control of the fascsit regime that now resides in Washington and Brussels!

While Atheist Tsipras and Syriza complied to their masters ….and made false and ridiculous charges that Russia had influence the population of Greece …in protesting the giveaway of the culture of Greek macedonians…. he even suggested that the Orthodox Monks were payed off to have an impact on the people of Greece …to reject the name agreement by …what is looking like …a manchurian candidate of the United States!
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By promoting that Narrative…. which Mad Dog Mattis provided him ….we can add …that he is also …a white supremacist dictator…who honestly believes…we are only inferior species ….that we are too stupid to understand the depth of depravity which makes him believe …that anyone will believe what he said!

ON the contrary….the leader of Fyrom …. is not stupid….and will never follow a script from Mr. Mattis …which will burn bridges with Russia…until he is a member of Nato !

Its over for Tsipras…and we should focus on cleaning up the corrupt government of the United States …who is rapidly waging war on the entire world ….and is so demented….that they are going to march us into a Nuclear holocust with Russia ….who can take us out in one hour!

If this was going on in the years of the old Soviet Block and the cold war…we would be practicing shelter drill in school in the event of a nuclear war with Russia….and fabricated Bomb Shelters would be springing up all over America! But not now…. they want to keep us stupid and ignorant of the provocative foreign policy….. that can subject us to nuclear weapons from Russia…which are a 100 more powerful ….than the nuclear firecrackers of the 60,’s and 70’s! Yet no alarms or preparation for the degenerates who now run our country! No alarms ….only the use of political warfare in Washington …..designed to distract us …as to what they are really doing around the world ….and why we have a 26 trillion dollar deficit …. and growing to commit suicide!